Lanjo Lee (So Surreal) was dismissed at odds of 13-1 despite being installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Monday’s Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The six-year-old who faded to sixth in his seasonal return last week (Feb 2), wound up first-over in Monday’s installment of the $15,000 Open. Young reinsman Jacob Cutting got the catch-drive behind the Jeff Sorenson trainee who overpowered a tiring leader approaching the three-quarter pole before drawing away to an insurmountable lead. Lanjo Lee checked in as a three and a half-length winner on Monday in a mile clocked in 1:54.4. Last week’s Open winner The Good Doctor (Brett Beckwith) came from well off the pace to be the runner-up to Lanjo Lee while the race’s favorite Rocknroll Runa A (Matt Athearn) earned the show spot. Lanjo Lee, who is owned by Gordon Swift of Bath, NY, paid $28 to win in the upset and led an exacta and triple that returned $136 and $466 (on $2 wagers).
Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon with a matinee set to begin at 12pm. There will be a Pick Five carryover of $3,779 beginning in the card’s first race.
